Surah 26. Surah al Shu’ara (The Poets)
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Raheem
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
- Ta Seen Meem
- These are Signs from a Book, illuminated.
- Perhaps your soul feels (the pain of) death
That they have not believed. - Had We so willed it,
We would bring down upon them
A Sign from the heavens
So their necks are lowered (they are humbled) before it. - And there does not come to them
Any fresh reminder from the Most Compassionate
Except that they turn away from it. - Lo! They have indeed denied,
So, there will soon descend upon them the News
About what they laughed at. - Do they not see on the earth
How much of every blessed kind
We have grown therein, in pairs. - Indeed! In it there are Signs!
But most of them have no certainty of faith. - And indeed, your Rabb is He
Who is the Mighty, the Merciful. - And (remember) when your Rabb called Moses
To go forth to a people who had transgressed— - (That is) the people of the Pharaoh—
Will they not be mindful (of Allah)? - He said: “O my Rabb!
I fear they will be among the rejecters, - And my breast will contract (My heart will decrease in its goodness),
And my tongue will not express itself freely—
Therefore (O my Rabb), send (the command) to Aaron. - And they have an accusation against me;
Therefore, I am afraid they will kill me.” - Said (the Rabb): “It shall not be!
Therefore, go forth with Our Signs;
We shall indeed be with you and listen (to you). - So, go to the Pharaoh, the two of you,
And tell him: ‘We are indeed Messengers
From the Rabb of all the worlds; - Let the children of Israel go with us!’”
- Said (the Pharaoh):
“Did we not protect and sustain you among us in your childhood?
And you stayed with us for many years of your life. - And you have done that deed—whatever you did—
Indeed, you are among those who deny (Our acts of magnanimity).” - Said (Moses): “I did it then, and I was among those who were lost.
- And I ran away from you when I was afraid of you,
Then, my Rabb granted me wisdom,
And made me among the Messengers. - And is this the favor that you reproach me with—
That you have enslaved the children of Israel?” - Said the Pharaoh: “And what is the Rabb of all the worlds?”
- Said (Moses): “The Rabb of the heavens and the earth
And what is between them,
If you are among those who seek certainty.” - Said (the Pharaoh) to those around him:
“Do you not hear?” - Said (Moses): “Your Rabb,
And the Rabb of your earliest forefathers.” - Said (the Pharaoh): Indeed! your Messenger,
Who has been sent to you is of a certainty a madman.” - Said (Moses): “The Rabb of the East and of the West
And what is in between them,
If you but reason.” - Said (the Pharaoh): “If you take anyone besides me
As your god,
I will certainty make you a prisoner.” - Said (Moses): “Even if I bring you something manifest (for all to see)?”
- Said (the Pharaoh): “Bring it then, if you are truthful.”
- So, he (Moses) threw his staff,
And lo! It became a serpent manifest! - And he pulled out his hand,
And lo! It became white (without blemish) for those who saw it. - Said (the Pharaoh) to the leaders around him:
“Indeed, this is a well trained sorcerer— - He desires to expel you from your land with his magic,
So what do you counsel?” - They said: “Give him and his brother some time,
And send the heralds to the townships - To bring to you all the skillful magicians.”
- So, the sorcerers were gathered together
At the appointed time and date, - And it was said to the people:
“Are you all gathered together, - So that we may obey (follow the faith of) the magicians
If they are victorious?” - So, when the sorcerers came, they asked the Pharaoh:
“Will there be a guaranteed reward for us if we are victorious?” - He said: “Yes, and you will indeed be in my inner circle (among those close to me).”
- Moses said to them: “Throw what you wish to throw.”
- So they threw their ropes and their staffs, and they said:
“By the honor of the Pharaoh, we shall indeed triumph.” - Then Moses threw his staff,
And as it started to swallow up what they had invented, - The sorcerers fell into prostration.
- They said: “We believe in the Rabb of all the worlds—
- The Rabb of Moses and Aaron.”
- Said (the Pharaoh): “Do you believe in Him
Before I give you permission?
Indeed, the one who taught you sorcery must be your leader;
So, you will soon learn (your lesson)!
I will surely cut off your hands and your feet on opposite sides, and of a certainty nail you to the cross, all of you.” - They said: “It does not matter—
Indeed! We are destined to return to our Rabb! - We do certainly hope
That our Rabb will forgive our wrongs
As we are the first to be
Among those who have certainty of faith.” - And We sent revelation to Moses:
“Leave with Our servants by night—
You will certainly be pursued.” - Then the Pharaoh sent heralds into the cities,
- (Announcing:) “They are indeed but a small band,
- And they have indeed aroused our anger,
- And of a certainty we are an armed party.”
- Thus did We take them out of gardens and fountains,
- And treasures and peaceful homes.
- That is how it was!
And We made the children of Israel their inheritors. - So they pursued them until dawn,
- When the two parties saw each other,
The companions of Moses said:
“Indeed, we are trapped!” - Said (Moses): “Certainly not!
My Rabb is indeed with me,
Soon will He show me the way.” - Then We sent the revelation to Moses
To strike the sea with his staff—
And it split, and each side was like a huge mountain. - And then We brought the pursuers close by.
- And We saved Moses and all those with him.
- Then We drowned the pursuers.
- Verily, in that is a Sign,
But most of them believe not. - And indeed, your Rabb is He
Who is the Mighty, the Merciful! - And recite to them the chronicle of Abraham.
- When he said to his father and to his people:
“What is it that you worship (and serve)?” - They said: “We worship idols,
And we stay in attendance on them.” - He said: “Do they hear you when you call them?
- Or, do they benefit or harm you?”
- They said: “But we found our forefathers practice it that way.”
- He said: “Have you witnessed (have you seen with your inner eye),
What it is that you worship? - You and your forefathers of antiquity?
- Then, indeed they are my enemies,
But not the Rabb of all the worlds, - He Who created me,
And, He Who guides me, - And He Who feeds me and quenches my thirst,
- And when I am sick, He heals me,
- He, who will give me death, then will raise me up,
- And He, from whom I hope for forgiveness of my errors
On the Day of Judgment. - O my Rabb! Grant me judgment,
And place me in the company of the righteous! - And make for me a tongue (that speaks the) Truth,
For the later (generations); - And make me among the inheritors of the Gardens of Grace;
- And forgive my father—
He is indeed among those who are lost. - And do not dishonor me on the Day of Return,
- The Day when neither wealth nor children will be of benefit—
- Except such as one who brings a sound heart before Allah.
- And the Garden shall be brought close to those who remember Him;
- And Hell shall be opened up to the lost ones;
- And it shall be said to them:
‘Where are those you used to worship - Other than Allah?
Can they help you,
Or be helped themselves?’ - Then, they shall be thrown therein face down,
And the lost ones, - And the armies of Iblis, all of them.
- They will say, and they will argue with one another:
- ‘By Allah! We were indeed in manifest error,
- In that we took you to be the equal of the Rabb of all the worlds;
- And the culprits did but mislead us—
- So there is none to intercede for us.
- And no friend, empathizer.
- If indeed we could go back,
Then, we would be among those who believe,’” - Lo! In that there is a Sign!
But most of them have no certainty of faith. - And indeed, your Rabb is the Mighty, the Merciful.
- The people of Noah gave the lie to the Messengers.
- When their brother Noah said to them:
“Are you not conscious of Allah? - Indeed, I am a Messenger for you, truthful.
- Therefore, be conscious of Allah, and follow me.
- And I do not ask from you any compensation for it—
No! My recompense is but with the Rabb of all the worlds. - Therefore, be conscious of Allah, and follow me.”
- They said: “Should we follow you,
When those who follow you are the lowly ones?” - Said (Noah): “And what knowledge do I have of what they do?
- Their reckoning is only with my Rabb,
If only you understood. - And I am not one to send away those who have faith.
- I am not but a Warner, making things clear.”
- They said: “O Noah! If you do not desist,
You will be among those who are stoned to death.” - He said: “O my Rabb!
My people have indeed rejected me. - Therefore, open up a wide gap between me and them,
And deliver me and those with me who have certainty of faith.” - So, We delivered him and those with him
In the ship, loaded up. - Then, after this, We drowned the remaining.
- Lo! In that is a Sign!
But most of them have no certainty of faith. - And indeed, your Rabb is He,
Who is verily the Mighty, the Merciful! - The (people of) A’ad rejected the Messengers.
- When their brother Hud said to them:
“Are you not conscious of Allah? - I am indeed a Messenger for you— truthful.
- Therefore, be conscious of Allah and follow me.
- And I do not ask from you any compensation for it;
No! My recompense is but with the Rabb of all the worlds. - Do you build a sign on every high ground frivolously?
- And you build grand structures thinking that you will live forever?
- And when you seize (people and territory), you seize them as aggressors?
- So, fear Allah, and follow me.
- And be conscious of Him who has helped you in all that you know—
- Helped you with livestock and children,
- And gardens and springs.
- I do indeed fear a punishment for you on the Momentous Day.
- They said: “It is the same to us whether you preach to us,
Or you are not among those who preach. - This (our way) is not but the way of the ancients.
- And we are not among those who are doomed.
- So they rejected him— and We destroyed them—
Indeed, therein is a Sign!
But most of them believe not. - And indeed, your Rabb is He who is the Mighty, the Merciful.
- The Thamud rejected the Messengers.
- When their brother Saleh said to them:
“Are you not conscious of Allah? - I am indeed a Messenger for you, truthful.
- Therefore, be conscious of Allah and follow me.
- And I ask from you no compensation for it;
Nay! My recompense is with the Rabb of all the worlds. - Will you be undisturbed, in peace, with what is here—
- In the gardens and the fountains,
- And the crops, and date palms with soft and slender spathes?
- And you carve out houses from the mountains with skill?
- So, fear Allah and follow me!
- And do not follow the commands of those who commit excess—
- Those who cause division in the land and do not seek reconciliation.”
- They said: “Indeed, you are but among those who are bewitched.
- You are not but a human like us.
Therefore, bring us a Sign if you are among the truthful.” - He said: “This she-camel will partake of water,
And you will partake of water
On agreed upon days. - So, do not touch her with evil intentions—
Otherwise, the doom of a Momentous Day shall seize you! - But they hamstrung her,
And they regretted it. - And the punishment seized them—
Indeed, in that is a Sign!
But most of them have no certainty of faith. - And indeed your Rabb is the Mighty, the Merciful.
- The people of Lot rejected the Messengers.
- When their brother Lot said to them:
“Are you not conscious of Allah? - Indeed, I am a Messenger for you, truthful.
- Therefore, fear Allah and obey me.
- And I ask from you no compensation for it.
No! My recompense is with the Rabb of all the worlds. - Do you approach the men in all the worlds (in all societies)
- And you reject
What your Rabb has created for you as your spouses?
No! You are a people transgressing all bounds! - They said: “If you desist not, O Lot!
You will surely be among those expelled.” - He said: “I am indeed among those who detest what you do.”
- (And he prayed) “O my Rabb!
Deliver me and my family
From what they do.” - So, We delivered him,
And his family, all of them, - Except an old woman
(who was) among those who stayed behind. - Then We obliterated the others.
- And We showered them with a shower (of fused clay)—
How terrible was the shower upon those who had been warned! - Indeed, in that is a Sign!
But most of them have no certainty of faith. - And indeed, your Rabb is the Mighty, the Merciful!
- The people of the woods rejected the Messengers.
- When Shu’aib said to them:
“Are you not conscious of Allah - Indeed, I am to you a Messenger, truthful.
- Therefore, fear Allah and obey me.
- And I do not ask compensation from you for it;
Nay! My recompense is but with the Rabb of all the worlds. - Complete the measure,
And do not be among those who give less than what is due. - And weigh with a scale, correct (and calibrated).
- And do not cheat people of their goods,
And do not walk around the earth spreading division and rancor. - And be conscious of your Rabb who created you,
And those who came before you.” - They said: “Verily, you are not but among those who are bewitched;
- And you are not but a human like us,
And we suspect that you are among the liars. - So, bring down upon us a piece of the sky
If you are among the truthful.” - He said: “My Rabb is knowledgeable of what you are doing.”
- So they rejected him,
Then the punishment seized them on the Day of Shadows (gloom);
Indeed, it was the punishment of an awesome Day. - Lo! In that is a Sign,
But most of them believe not. - And indeed, your Rabb is the Mighty, the Merciful.
- And this indeed is sent down by the Rabb of all the worlds.
- With it came down the Trustworthy Spirit,
- Upon your heart, so that you are among the Warners,
- In the Arabic tongue, making things clear—
- And this indeed is in the Scriptures of the ancients.
- Is it not a Sign for them
That the scholars among the Children of Israel know this? - And if We had revealed it upon someone among the non-Arabs,
- And he had recited it to them,
They would not have believed in it. - That is how We pass it through (without leaving an imprint on)
The hearts of the culprits (the wrong doers). - They will not believe in it
Until they see the painful doom; - And it will descend on them with a suddenness
When they do not even perceive it. - Then they will say:
“Will we be among those granted respite?” - So, do they wish to hasten Our punishment?
- Have you considered—
If We grant them wealth (and prosperity) for years, - Then comes to them what they have been promised—
- Of what benefit to them is what they enjoyed?
- We have not destroyed any community
Unless they were among those warned. - Remember! We were indeed not unjust!
- And the devils did not bring it down (the Revelation)—
- It does not suit them (and their evil mission),
Nor are they capable of it. - Indeed, they have been removed away from the range of hearing.
- So, do not call on other deities with Allah,
For (in that case), you shall be among those punished. - And warn your closest relatives,
- And lower your wings (in compassion)
Upon whoever follows you
From among those who have certainty of faith. - Then, if they disobey you,
Say:” I am indeed innocent of what you do.” - And have trust in the Mighty, the Merciful;
- He who sees you when you stand,
- And when you are in the company of those who prostrate (in prayer).
- Indeed, He is the Seer, the Knower!
- Shall I inform you upon whom descend the devils?
- They descend upon every sinful accuser;
- Who lend their ears to gossip—
And most of them are liars. - And as for the poets—
Those who are in error follow them. - Do you not see
That they wander aimlessly through every valley?
(Are disjointed and confused and move from one lowly thought to another). - And they say what they do not act upon.
- Except such as those who have certainty of faith,
And perform righteous deeds,
And remember Allah boundless times,
And defend themselves after they have been wronged—
Lo! Those who do wrong will soon know
What turn (in which direction) they will be turned.